TPB Top Porzelanik Barcelona - A New Kitchen Countertop

It's my real pleasure to announce a brand new product for American kitchens! I've searched and searched and I cannot see where this product has been talked about in the US anywhere online up to now. 

It's a kitchen countertop that creates an entirely new category of countertop materials, starting now! It's beautiful, it's extremely durable and it will coordinate perfectly with any kitchen decor. I saw it at the kitchen show, SICI in Spain, and it's called TPB | Top Porzelanik Barcelona. It is a newly introduced product for this company. I attended the SICI show in Madrid as a speaker on American kitchen design, along with my colleague Roberta Kravette, courtesy of the top kitchen design software program, autokitchen which is based in Spain, but has software users around the globe.

NOTE: I have no ties of any kind to this company. I discovered it at the SICI show, love it and wish to share my find.

The TPB top is, essentially, a ceramic tile countertop, in slab form.  The top is light weight and possible to have 100 different finishes and textures. There are six different "bases" available, each of which will give a different look to this thinner-than-normal countertop. It's easy cleaning and highly durable. It is a natural product and completely recyclable. Take a look at the spec sheet. And here is a list of features and benefits of the countertop material. 

I have two samples that I was able to take back with me, and while some of my images below are very close up and the surface looks to have a textured relief, it is completely smooth with just a tiny textural feel. I encourage you to take a good look at the website to see all of the information about this very interesting and exciting countertop material!

Following are images that I took at the SICI show in Madrid a few weeks back. I predict that this material will receive a very enthusiastic greeting in the U.S. It is stunning.

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

 

The Social Kitchen

Come to today's chat on The Social Kitchen on Sears' Facebook page! We'll be talking about how your kitchen can be a social gathering spot for the holidays and still be efficient. Whether you make the chat on time today, which will start soon, or you see this later on, please add your comments to our chat on Sears' page. See you there shortly!

Kitchen Lighting - The Lighting Guy

Here's your lighting guy...it's Matthew T. Gregg, president of Synergy Lighting. Matt is a Certified Lighting specialist by the American Lighting Association, Member of the Illumination Engineering Society, Member of the National Association of Independent Lighting Distributors and Energy Star Partner. I'm happy to have made Matt's acquaintance and I had a few basic questions for him. Yes, every now and then we have to review certain basics of lighting, so here we go! Do you have questions for Matt? Ask in the comments section!

What's the latest in general overhead lighting for kitchens? What 3 products do you like and why?

As trends in style, décor and technology evolve, so do the myriad of products available in today’s marketplace.   This can often lead to confusion for homeowners and designers in choosing the appropriate type of lighting.  When choosing overhead lighting, it’s easy enough to be persuaded emotionally to a particular fixture or design, however the foremost thoughts should be on task, design, function and longevity. 

Recessed cans are often regarded today as being old and bulky, and ready for something new.  This might hold true if you currently have 6” or 8” recessed cans with standard white or black baffles trims.  Most manufacturers today make an assortment of trims and baffles that are easily interchangeable between fixtures, thus allowing over 40 possible appearances for any kitchen design.  Revitalizing a ceiling with either a trim change, or smaller more sophisticated recessed lighting is always a winner. 

Synergy Lighting Starlites are the smallest recessed light fixtures available.  These small fixtures come in white or silver or custom color and add unique functionality.   Weather you choose to install them in rows or patterns, or simply place them randomly throughout the ceiling, the Starlites simulate a romantic, starlit sky when dimmed, and provide full task lighting when on full bright.

Contrast Lighting is another top pick for recessed lighting offering over 200 distinct options from simple to extravagant.  These dimmable fixtures provide ease of installation and affordability with the flexibility of adding the finishing touches to accentuate any design style.  Contrast offers from 2” modern to 5” contemporary and traditional styles and can be installed with ProLED light bulbs for the ultimate in energy savings.

Contrast LightingFor kitchens with existing 5” or 6” recessed cans, Juno Lighting offers the ultimate in LED Solid State lighting with is fully dimmable LED remodel can that has 20 different trim options.  This fixture comes with a built in LED light engine that lasts for 60,000 hours of use.  For most kitchens, this means 30 years of never changing a light bulb.   At only 14 total watts, these LED fixtures provide crisp, brilliant illumination which is excellent for enhancing granite and simulated stone countertops, wood finishes and tile.

What are your recommendations for quantity of (general) light to specify for a kitchen? What part does beam spread play (I'm always concerned with that issue)? Do you have a quick and easy way to specify adequate lighting? 

When designing lighting for any kitchen, you must consider layering three light levels for different occurrences that the kitchen will be used for.   These types of layers are referred to as event lighting.  Each event that will occur in the kitchen will require a separate form of adjustable (dimmable) lighting.  These are Task Lighting, Accent Lighting, and Mood Lighting and can be created by the following design tips.

CablLED LightingTask Lighting:  Highest levels of light are required for activities such as Cooking, Cleaning, and Bill Paying, or homework.  Lighting should consist of adequate overhead lighting, and under cabinet lighting around counter tops and, islands and bars.

An excellent under cabinet lighting product is the CabLED from OptiLED.com, These IP68 Rate LED Strips are flexible and easy to install.  CabLED^TMcomes with a complete interconnection and mounting system for both indoor and outdoor under cabinet designs which enables it to be mounted on wallboard, concrete, brick, tile, metal, wood, glass or any surface which can support an anchor or adhesive base easily and without installation errors.  Available in both cool and warm LED, and completely waterproof against inadvertent splashing, the CabLED is an excellent, discrete under cabinet solution.

Accent Lighting: Moderate levels of light should be created in multiple layers such as Under and Over-cabinet lighting, or to position adjustable overhead lighting to illuminate architectural features such as range tops, open glass cabinets and décor. Typically, accent lighting is used in general home illumination when the kitchen is not in use.

Mood Lighting:  Lower levels of light are required, utilizing dimmers.  Popular forms of mood lighting are a combination of task and accent lighting, and optional lighting created from toe-kick lighting, or candle lights.  These help set a stage for parties, or romantic quiet evening with good food and fine wines.

What else should consumers and designers be aware of when thinking about kitchen lighting? 

By utilizing lighting in layers, homeowners can adjust these setting and create different landscapes throughout a kitchen to make the kitchen much more than the room where meals are prepared.  Remember a kitchen is the only room in the home that serves multiple uses, and can be illuminated for multiple dramatic effects.  Kitchen lighting is the most crucial lighting project for any home. 

When utilizing three types of lighting in a kitchen, the rule of thumb is 40 foot candles for cleaning and cooking, 20 foot candles for dining, and 2 foot candles for mood lighting.  

The bulk of foot candle illumination (task lighting) will come from the overhead lighting.  Remember that track lighting is a form of accent lighting, not task.  When determining the appropriate number of recessed cans or lighting fixtures for a ceiling, there is no such thing as too much when combined with dimmers, only too little.  A general rule of thumb is a minimum of 65 watts of incandescent or 11 watts of LED for every 20 square feet of kitchen space.  Beam spread is only a concern with extremely high ceilings in narrow kitchens that require longer distances of down light, all other main lighting should be of flood type lighting. 

Spot Lights and narrow beams are used in accent lighting at lower wattages only.  Under Cabinet lighting requires a minimum of 30 Watts Incandescent or 3 Watts LED per foot.   As for accent and mood lighting, these are added to task lighting, and require no other considerations past their existence in the kitchen.  Fluorescent lighting should always be avoided in a kitchen as the light source is dulling to countertops, wood grains and finishes.  

QUESTIONS FOR MATT? ASK IN THE COMMENTS SECTION!

Show Me Your Kitchen!

So, I took a look at my google analytics and I saw that I had visitors last month from 175 countries. How incredible and amazing is that??

I want to see your kitchens please and the more different or humble or personal or charming or over the top or WHATEVER, the better! I'm looking for one particular type....YOURS! :)

It would be best if you send me an email with a link to your photos that are on a photo site, say, something like flickr.com, which is free and easy to access. Images from any photo website will do. Just send me a link. Tell me why you love your kitchen and please give me permission to use an image if I choose to include it in a future post (or posts.)

I love my country, the USA, but this time around, I'd like to see kitchens from the other 174 countries, other than the US! Let's make the world of kitchens a little bit smaller! 

Come on world, show me your kitchens and tell me your kitchen love story! I can't wait!!

OK, it's a little long, but please send the link to: SUSANSERRACKD @ THEKITCHENDESIGNER.ORG

Timeless Kitchen Design

It's a question which is being asked with more and more frequency as we want our kitchens to have as much design longevity as possible: What elements make up a kitchen design that translates into a timeless look?

The question comes to mind now as I think about my trip to Spain, from which I have just returned. I was invited to travel to Spain to speak about American kitchen design trends as a guest of Autokitchen, an exhibitor and partner of the SICI fair, at which I and my colleague, Roberta Kravette, conducted our presentations. 

Spain is amazing. Amazing IS the word! I have visited Spain once before, many years ago. Roberta and I took the opportunity to travel to Malaga, Ronda, and Granada, leading up to the SICI fair in Madrid. So, the word "timeless", as we traveled through these ancient cities, is the first concept to grasp in my consciousness as I write this first post on my experience in Spain.

The culture of Spain....the food, its landscape, the architecture and interiors spoke to me in a way that I did not expect. On the second day of photographing endlessly (my obsessive side emerges when I have a camera in my hands and over the course of 5 days, I took a good 1500 images) I felt "it." I saw centuries' old design elements that are perfectly in sync with today's modern kitchens and interiors. The patterns, the flooring, the tile, the colors, the decorative details from ages long past are without question the foundation of a timeless style.

Is this a new concept in design? Decidedly not. Being up close and personal with authenticity is a sort of nudge to stop and observe ancient design elements (which look awesome when observed in situ rather than in a store with flouresent lighting mixed with contemporary items) with today's perspective. Short of visiting old and ancient cultures in person, I'd highly recommend these at-home treasure hunting activities as your road map to inspiration and authenticity:

Visit Museums

Look Carefully at Old Paintings To Observe Decorative Details

Find Books in Your Area of Historic/Cultural Interest (example)

And, Of Course, Google Image and Text Searches (example)

Most of all...take your time and research to find what speaks to you!

I have much more to share about my trip to Spain, including the purpose of the trip...my invitation to speak at the SICI (kitchen show), a request for a meeting in Madrid (via email) by a lovely Spanish couple which was REALLY a treat (I met with them), and the many beautiful things I saw at the kitchen show. More soon!!!

Here is an autokitchen image...no, it's not a photograph, it's a rendering!

Nate Berkus & #Nateday921 #Nateshow921 #Nategate #designbloggers

I'm going to try this again. I wrote a post already on the Nate Berkus "event": the, approximately, 100 design bloggers who gathered in New York city from all around the country, for the purpose of being in the audience for a taping of Nate's show. I deleted the entire post, due to a suspected troll in the comment section, when I should have just removed the single comment. I want to put down my take on this event once again.

This was begun by the (twitter handles) @moggitgirls and @creategirl by declaring a "NateDay" in which design bloggers would blog about Nate Berkus in support of him and his forthcoming show. Mission accomplished and major kudos to these ladies for their hard work and vision!

Later, word spread that a date was set by the producers of the Nate Berkus show to accommodate us bloggers in appreciation for NateDay. We came en masse...a force of 100 or so design bloggers to celebrate Nate. Supporting/celebrating Nate via attending a show taping was the first reason to gather together. A secondary, but, surely, more important reason to gather was the opportunity to meet one another, a fantastic benefit of the trip. That was by FAR, for me, a wonderful experience, seeing so many blogging buddies, seeing old friends and making new ones!

My Feeling About Nate Before the Taping

He's a design talent; there is no question about that. His work is wonderful. He's GOOD. He seems approachable, kind, with a big heart, and for me, there is really nothing not to like or respect. 

The Day of Taping

We watched the taping of the show, which, to me, was very interesting, especially all the behind the scenes action. How fun is that? It was an experience.

Here's my take: The show, both the producers and Nate fell short in not acknowledging on air that a) he had an audience of design bloggers (not 5 pharmaceutical sales bloggers, but 100 interior design bloggers) who paid him a pretty incredible show of support by blogging about him en masse on one given day about his forthcoming show and b) that design blogs are a good thing. To me, personally, it shows a lack of awareness of the importance/relevance/power of social media and a lack of basic manners that in this case, transcends corporations, stars, and doing business as usual.

When done en masse, as this was done (probably representing millions of unique visitors to our blogs combined) in support of the Nate Berkus brand, a very public thank you is appropriate, which could have lasted all of 10 seconds. They have to be kicking themselves about this. "Look what this audience did for me, many thanks...and aren't design blogs amazing?" He SHOULD brag about this tribute to him, why not? At the same time, throw a crumb to design bloggers.

I do want to note that I am one of the ones who did not expect the show to be about design blogs. I expected it to be a regular Nate style show. Once I realized the force that was sitting in the audience, I then thought, hmmm...we should be mentioned briefly, of course.

It simply needs to be said. What am I feeling now? Mild annoyance which will be ancient history very quickly, but again, it must be said, in my opinion, given the efforts, albeit unsolicited, that people made for him and his brand.

Another reason why it is appropriate to make mention of design bloggers is because bloggers give back. In my case, I'm a design professional and have been blogging for 3 1/2 years. I share my professional expertise, tips, resources, how tos, and so much more, with many, many people. I help many people who cannot afford a high end designer via my blog and via my one hour consulting service. I know my blog is appreciated and valued because I get lots of emails saying thank you, you helped me figure "it" out!

Blogging takes an enormous amount of time away from my business and it brings in very little income each month, nothing to speak of, actually, in my case and in most cases. There are countless design bloggers who have this similar situation/model. You don't have to be a professional to help people and those who are not design professionals contribute valuable insight and information to the public as well. We give back every day and perform a free service to an enormous number of people. 

I'm not emotional about this. They dropped the ball, not me. This incident does not affect me directly in any way. But, it's a good opportunity to talk about how we design bloggers play a vital role for many people who aspire to have, simply, well designed, homes that they can feel proud of and comfortable in. It's a public service that we provide, yes it is.

My Feeling About Nate After the Taping

My positive feeling hasn't changed. Nate is a person of authentic talent. Speaking of authenticity, after the show, Nate came out on stage, sat on a stool and took questions for a good 20 minutes. My perception is that he spoke from his heart, he was a good listener, and he shared experiences with us. His answers were thoughtful and not rushed. I liked him more than I did before the taping and I still feel that way as I write this. I think he's a good guy, a smart guy, that could have received better advice, and could have asked his staff to tell him about/research the value of design blogs. Doesn't make him a bad person. Nate being in a position of having reach to millions of people warrants this (fair and balanced) analysis. I hope he understands that. 

Say la vee...(yes, I know it's supposed to be cest la vie..someone once corrected me on that!) everyone makes mistakes and I'll put my mistakes up there with ANYONE...just try me, mine will be better than yours!! This one was a good one, though, given how we gave to Nate and how we do give back to the general public as a group. 

Moving on, I'd encourage Nate to engage with design bloggers again. His brand can go to new heights that he never would have imagined, influencing a whole other category of people who may not (currently) watch his show but may hear of him in another way, via online initiatives, within segments of his show, from the show's website, or other interesting ways to showcase the value of design bloggers. His new and old fans will love him even more! Just some suggestions...

Comments are closed here due to the previous troll, but please comment on my facebook page, where this will show up shortly...and "Like" me while you're there!!

Decor8

One thing I can surely say...I've admired Holly Becker, Founder and Editor of Decor8, well before I started blogging in February, 2007. Holly's blog was, and is, more than ever, a top model for super creative and relevant online interior design content. I definitely do not know how she does it, seemingly, with such ease and always with style. The quality of the content is amazing. I know Holly, as we have cross paths here and there, to be focused, yet wide open to inspiration! 

I asked Holly if I could pose a few questions to her. I was curious to find out what her current design aesthetic is, how or if it is changing, and a few questions about kitchens, of course! Let's get to know Holly a little better...

But first: Holly is featured as an ex-pat American blogger living in Europe in the premier issue of Rue Magazine! Holly's feature is on page 41. I must add that I was thrilled to see Copenhagen as a very favorite place...it's mine as well...home is #1, Copenhagen is #2!

How is your personal design aesthetic changing, now that you are settled into Europe, Germany in particular?  

The light is so much different here in northern Germany - much cooler - and I love it. It has given me the opportunity to finally embrace the color palette that I love - white walls, wood floors and colors that make me happy like pale grey, lavender, blue tones, yellows, greens, pinks, gold and silver... I felt in New Hampshire I was very limited since the light was very warm and the windows in my 1875 carriage house were quite small. Here, at least in northern German cities, the buildings are large and rooms have large windows and often high ceilings, so this is ideal for me. I also have the old Jugenstil architecture in my city, Hanover. 

I live in a district called List and we have some gorgeous buildings here with amazing places to live - either to rent or own. Most rentals here do not have closets, in fact none do, so you have to bring your own closets in the form of wardrobes so I've had to change how I approach storage. Some rentals have closets off of the kitchen; these are for food storage usually, but that is only common in the buildings built in the 1800-early 1900s. 

I also have acess to very different products and supplies here, from paint manufacturers and colors, to wallpaper vendors, furniture showrooms, you name it - it is completely different from my life in the states. Back home, I'd drive into Boston and know exactly where to go for lighting, flooring, furniture but here I'm still learning and sampling new brands so that has also impacted my design decisions.

Having seen countless images of kitchens over the years via the amazing quantity and depth of posting that you do, what is the general type of aesthetic and/or design elements that "speak" to you, and are there any kitchen images that you can think of that you're crazy about? I know your fans would love to see that!

Oh yes, the older I get (I guess it has to do with staying home and entertaining more now in my thirties over socializing at bars and restaurants as I did a lot in my twenties) the more influenced I am by having the right space for cooking and storage - the kitchen is becoming more and more a part of my life like never before!

I've recently embarked on going from a renegade experimental cook to one who follows cookbooks (most people start cooking the other way around!) and I guess as a result I'm finally learning about all of the gadgets needed to make some of these new recipes! I usually cook the same things over and over again and they usually do not require more than my two hands for rolling out dough, pots, pans, a spatula, a blender, a whisk and some good wooden spoons! With cookbooks come responsibility and breaking your own rules, which I am trying more and more now, mostly because I became bored with my meals.

I'm suddenly excited to get involved in this whole new world of lingering in foodie shops and am finally putting thought into purchasing a Kitchenaid stand mixer. I want a kitchen that feels authentic and real, not fussy, and I think counter space is critical. I also like it when stove tops are separate from the oven, I find it easier to bake with a wall oven, for instance, but I also like having less visual clutter by keeping cabinetry unified below. I love open shelving, but not for everything, just for glassware that is used daily along with some plates and bowls, again, things that are used and washed regularly.

I was storing wine glasses (I drink wine maybe a few times a month) on open shelves and that was a huge mistake because they became huge dust magnets. I also stored mixing bowls and it was the same thing -- dust, dust, dust! Now I store only items on my open shelves that are either eaten (I put nuts, seeds, dried fruit, cereal) in clear storage containers with white lids (keeping healthy foods visible is better than showcasing the candy, I keep that tucked away in my "no no drawer") or items that again, are used daily like my mugs, glasses, bowls and plates.  

Opinions! Yes, that's what makes a highly personal kitchen function perfectly!  ...Susan

Coming Next: Holly's personal design aesthetic described, and her dream kitchen!

My World of Kitchens!

And, I'm back! I'm more immersed than ever in the world universe of kitchens...maybe slightly underwater may be the better term due to my recent posting absence (I'm so ashamed!)

I honestly have four full time jobs right now: my design practice, all of the social media areas that I touch including the NEW blog I started, Scandinavian Kitchens & Design which is another labor of love, the coming launch of my new product line, www.bornholmstudio.com, and another top secret beeeeeeg project I'm involved in, not to mention appointments, events, and jobsite visits which are on the calendar, one of which is taking me to Madrid on a speaking engagement the first week of October and to a GE summit two days before I leave for Madrid!

Besides that, part of this summer was spent with my dear and youngest son, who unpredictably came home for a couple of days from the city to look for a car with us and ended up staying for nearly 2 weeks, as his girlfriend had also left to visit her family out of the country for that time period. It was such a gift to have this quality time with him in July. Then, we moved him and his girlfriend to Columbia, MD, near DC, in August, to start their next 5 year adventure, his girlfriend attending a PhD program at U of MD. Of course, the move, and a subsequent visit to DC, was surrounded by multiple visits to IKEA and learning to eat crabs! 

Meanwhile, I've never been so stimulated in my life, professionally, by the new people I am continually meeting, materials I am seeing, and new information acquired, and I do love every minute of my busy day and now it's WAY past time to check in here, say a very warm hello and thanks for your patience. I will try to do scheduled blogging (a regular note on my calendar, saying "blog today!") rather than on the fly, which has not been working very well. The point is, it's a very busy time, but I'm happy as a clam, immersed in the kitchen universe, and am just trying to perfect the juggling! 

This ended up being a bit of a hello again post, so next time, I'll be letting you in on some of the pretty amazing things I've been seeing and hearing around the kitchen universe. 

House Beautiful Kitchen Of The Year 2010

"I never thought of myself as a designer." So says Jeff Lewis, host of "Flipping Out" and designer of House Beautiful's Kitchen Of The Year 2010, unveiled on Monday, July 19, at Rockefeller Center. Jeff, and his team set out to create a kitchen that reflected his personal aesthetic - a warm, modern kitchen with super clean lines, sleek surfaces and most of all, a minimalist and most importantly, easy to clean, design. 

"I really thought of myself living here," Jeff says. Jeff's lifestyle is one of often serving drinks and hors d'oeuvres before going out to dinner with friends, or taking in sushi, and when catering an event at home, having someone there to clean up immediately as the kitchen gets messy. The kitchen in his own home is wide open to the living area, and Jeff must have his kitchen "always stellar" as when he entertains, "everyone ends up in the kitchen."

FLICKR SLIDE SHOW - 9 million pictures!

Jeff talked about it being a challenge to design a contemporary space that is warm. I don't agree with that as a professional kitchen designer, but it brings up a great issue. Do you see this kitchen as warm? Here is what I think:

My Take

First, let me say that design is highly personal and highly subjective and my opinion is only ... my opinion! I think the kitchen is stunning. I love the use of neutrals and I also love contrast, especially when tempered with, in this case, the textured floor and the quietly textured backsplash. These elements, as well as the reclaimed elm table, add needed texture, and the floor, needed warmth. 

FLICKR SLIDE SHOW

The juxtaposition of these elements (including deep, rich, brown Kraftmaid cabinetry, and the coolness of Kohler's wall mounted Karbon faucet, SUPER cool and functional Crevasse prep sink with Cynchronus rinsing technology and Caesarstone's amazing island countertop, make life in this kitchen FUN! The Jenn Air appliances add to the fun with super functional ovens that will tell Jeff exactly how to cook anything (say, if his housekeeper is away on vacation if he gives her one)  ;)  without having to waste a second of time and the one-of-a-kind ductless cooktop.

The island shape and size is EXACTLY what is coming on strong today in kitchen design. While Jeff's lifestyle is more entertaining and quick food oriented (he doesn't cook) where the island can serve a use as a buffet, and hang out area, for my own personal demographic, with 3 grown kids and their SO's visiting fairly frequently, a large island serves an important purpose for socializing and meal preparation. This design serves many lifestyles well.

Once one experiences this fabulous, large island, really, who wants to prep or wash or cook, while facing a wall? I think this is one of the questions of our current time as socializing in the kitchen becomes even more important than it ever was before, which my perspective of kitchen design in the past 25 years points me to. Although in the vast majority of kitchens, some food tasks must be done against walls, (and many prefer to keep a mess more toward a concealed area) I predict, and have, in recent years, that islands will get larger in the foreseeable future solely due to an awareness of the importance of connecting with our friends and family, at the same time that we continue to be interested in more casual living. The integration of kitchen and living spaces is all about socializing. We may not all fully realize that we are feeling that desire more and more as we contemplate renovating our kitchens, but I'm seeing from where I sit, that we do indeed feel a push in that direction.

It brings up the question, which I am hearing from my clients, about "the mess" in an open plan kitchen. That is today's design conflict for sure. Jeff deals with it by having his housekeeper vigilant to the presence of clutter and mess! He's a VERY practical guy.

From a personal perspective, disclaimer already noted, I feel that the kitchen lacks a touch of soul. It's a "type" of kitchen design that is appropriate for many people, of course, but I would have liked to see less cabinetry and more interesting (yet still simple) design/storage solutions, particularly near the table. Cabinetry was the only design tool used to fill the main wall here, going from one end to the other. I would have liked to see the introduction of another material, still maintaining a simple design. That said, I love the large soffit above.

FLICKR SLIDE SHOW

The white dinnerware and accessories and rustic wooden bowls say "stylized" to me rather than "personal" or even "creatively quirky." The focus of the kitchen and cabinetry design seems to be a geometrical "frame of reference" lesson of coordinating dimensions. That said, that is absolutely a viable design philosophy. Maybe because I'm a kitchen designer, I see and interpret some design concepts in a different way and look at what the design process might have been. So, is it a warm/modern design to my eye? I would say more modern than warm...again, completely subjective.

There is no doubt that it IS beautifully designed for the lifestyle of its owner. In that respect, it's a winner!

What do you think??

Modern Kitchen

As a random feature, I'd like to show you a kitchen that would be interesting to talk about. In this case, it's a modern kitchen. 

It's always interesting to dissect the foundation and other elements that make up the framework of the design. There are several ways to "see" this kitchen. Images by the ridiculously beautiful magazine, Rum.

Below: Let's look at the largest view of the space. It's very strong, isn't it? Both the wood and the white, to me, are equally strong. This modern kitchen is striking in its simplicity with its super clean lines. Yet the texture of the wood makes a very striking...yet quiet...statement. It's strong, but sort of offers a feeling of security. An exciting mix of contrast on traditionally opposite planes (white used horizontally, wood used vertically) the white, larger in proportion and supplemented by furnishings, indeed serves as a paradoxical foundation. 

Below: THIS shot of this kitchen is a wow, no question about it. Can we achieve any more of a minimalist design? The shot itself is stunning. The wood texture and color radiates warmth and elegance. Clearly, the design is art...a functional and living sculpture.

Below: Well, the modern kitchen plot thickens! Now we see that this is a loft type space. A very open floorplan. The white continues from floor to ceiling to bedding to accessories. Two elements - wood and white. Strong rectilinear shapes focuses the eye toward (in one visual sense) floating and dominating vertical planes, a monument to the most important element of the space - the beauty of the wood. 

I must say that I'm not on board with living in this environment. It's not for me, but I ask these questions: Is the design is a reflection of the designer or the client? Is it a monument to the designer's ego or was it a concept the client was interested in experiencing? The origin of a design like this is of interest to me. Of course, one has to visualize the space with the tools of living. Are there children in the home? Clothing, books, toys, papers, all must have a concealed home and time taken to store used items when finished using them...or else. 

Can one live a 100% completely clutterless life? Seems a requirement for this type of living. Sure, I'd love to experience living in this way, but, as a second home, not a primary home and even so, I'd probably have to "test" it by renting a similarly conceptual home to see if it's a fit for how I live. It's living, functional, art, and it is quite amazing and wonderful, but the paradox and questions remain.

So, what do you think? How does this space make you feel? Would you like to live in these spaces, visualizing everyday living?

Father's Day And Kitchens

This will be a little piece on random tales and my personal observations of fathers...and kitchens and a bit more. I'll tell you what it won't be. It won't be, even on this Father's Day, pure praise for perfect fathers. You can find that in lots of places. 

Viking Ship Made by My Father on Display at a Museum in Seattle-he often worked with driftwoodMy father (born in Copenhagen, Denmark) was a flaming narcissist and I say that not with bitterness, no, but with affection, truly. The man was a charmer. And, most of my life, I ate it up and pined for more. I idolized him. He was a little funny looking, but made up for it with a passion for life. He was a free spirit...yet a straight laced entrepreneur who built a business that designed and manufactured a few parts (among other things) for Apollo 11 which went to the moon. He was a government defense contractor. He drove a cadillac, drank scotch, smoked a pipe (had a collection) and wore fancy suits. We lived in a Danish modern home. Some years later, I guess in his 40s, he lost the business. I think it was due to his narcissism and ultimately his difficulty working with others.

He then landed a job with Boeing and moved his new family (he had divorced my very sensible mother, also from Copenhagen) to Seattle. It wasn't long before he lost that job. He sold cars for awhile until he couldn't work cooperatively with anyone. A lover of art, a passionate collector, an artist himself, primarily a sculptor, he reinvented himself, and I mean reinvented! He grew his hair long and wore it in a ponytail or a braid. He grew a beard. I think he evolved more into the core of his identity.

An early drawing of my father'sHe scavenged garage sales and thrift markets and created a small business auctioning off his treasures which he thought had value. He profited and lost. The walls of his house were filled with art. Although I'd say I'm sure he was tormented from time to time, being a narcissist, especially when people didn't give him the time of day, since it was everyone else who was problematic, he stayed in an oddly happy bubble. He always spoke from his heart. That, I've got to give him.

A drawing from Svend Christensen, my father, that he did in his 80s entitled "Night Time Fantasy"Finally, he and his wife could not afford the house, and they moved to an apartment. He had sporadic interest in his 3 kids he left behind in Long Island before and after the move. I once said to him, "you left when we were teenagers to go across the country and you never flew us out there." His reply was, "do you know how much it cost to move to Seattle?" Oy. I knew at the time that was a wacky response! I helped him numerous times financially and toward the last few years of his life, sent him money monthly.

FATHERS AND KITCHENS!

One of countless images my father drew in his 80sEvery Sunday when I was growing up, before the divorce, my mother would take us kids to church and upon arrival home, my father would have prepared a great breakfast! My father was the master breakfast maker and, of course, this being the 60s, the master backyard griller, complete with dog, a beer, and Frank Sinatra. He made a big production (of course) of whatever he cooked and that was fun.

After the good years, I clearly remember my father telling me as I was soon to walk to the bus stop at 13 years old, that he and my mother would be getting divorced, and he would not be there when I returned home from school. He told me in the kitchen when he was sitting down eating his breakfast. Not the best timing for that message, I don't think! 

My father was a big thinker, very big. He had vision. I think too much, actually. He told me out of the blue one day when I was in my 30s that I should sell kitchens in Hong Kong. He was serious. That was an interesting piece of the puzzle...

Yes, he was a difficult, and wonderful-at-moments, father, but certainly an interesting one, and now, I have perspective. But, wow, he was really something. None of us are perfect and we are mostly a product of our own upbringing, and his was especially difficult. I'll always have those Sunday morning breakfasts, that's for sure. It's known among my siblings that I take after him the most...except for the narcissism! I absolutely believe that my similar personality characteristics of being a big, very deep, thinker, a free spirit, having a positive outlook, being a passionate person with vision, one who is comfortable with risk, enjoys creative endeavors, comes almost solely from his influence...geez, sounds a bit narcissistic! BUT, negative attributes coming from him? The same, any one of these characteristics which, if taken too far afield, might not bode well for every day living as history proved for him...the paradox! Checks and balances...I think many of us try to embrace the best qualities and temper the negative ones from our parents.

The patriarch in the kitchen preparing breakfast, a few days ago during our Cape Cod vacationBack to kitchens, as I reflect on my father's connection to our kitchen, I will say that in my design practice, more and more men are happy to be cooking in the kitchen. Maybe they have specific dishes or meals they like to cook, maybe they just like to assist. I'm definitely seeing more input from dads about the family's needs in the kitchen, special accommodations for the family, and an overall much higher interest in being involved in the cooking process than ever before. It's a nice trend to see.

FATHER'S DAY IN MY HOUSE TODAY

My husband, father to our 3 children, has also taken on a more involved role in the kitchen as the years have gone by. Always the one to go out and get breakfast foods, especially when our grown children and their SOs are visiting, always the self motivated director of cleaning up, just always happily and selflessly wanting to serve others in the family, having everyone's comfort in mind, today, we will treat him like a King! I will force him to relax, which could at first be uncomfortable for him, but he deserves it. 

All you dads out there...life isn't easy, it's a real roller coaster, but it's days like this that are important to stop the routine for a moment and enjoy the simple pleasures of family....and food is always in the equation, isn't it? To my son-in-law, who we just spent some days with in Cape Cod last week in their rented home to which they graciously invited us as well as our son and his girlfriend, you're an amazing dad to my granddaughter. You are her Prince Charming now and you always will be. I see that you get it. She's a VERY lucky girl, that Chloe! Love you and have a perfect Father's Day today! And all you other dads too! 

Nate Berkus + Kitchen Design = STYLE

I like Nate Berkus' style - I'm definitely a fan! Style is the word that comes to mind when I see interiors that have been touched by his creative hand.

I often see a philosophy of Nate's work which expresses "tradition with an edge." Nate's "edges" are awesome...cool color stories, tradition meets modern, texture meets soft, pattern dominates to unify, among so many more design concepts that delight, and always, for some reason, just feels right! Nate's infectious enthusiasm for design translates into an ease, a gracious informality that's easy to live with. I mean, I see him on Oprah, and before I know it, I'm smiling. He's seems to be such a happy guy! Creating interiors with a happy disposition definitely shines through one's work.

I'd love to see Nate do more kitchens, and I'd love to collaborate with him! Here's Nate's kitchen in his Chicago apartment. 

It flows. I love the black window trim. The turquoise is a great color and just flows into a collection of clean, solid, elements, sort of a framework for the room. And, those chairs and table...LOVE.

And Nate's Manhattan apartment....this kitchen I love! I'm a real lover of white floors...I have two painted white wood floors in my own home. It looks very much like a Swedish rag rug on the floor and the blue, black and touches of wood just punch up the space. The enveloping white on floor, ceiling, and walls, is the unifying element, which adds a flow and maximum spaciousness. There's a Scandinavian aesthetic to this kitchen. Another: LOVE!

Nate Berkus' kitchen in his Milan apartment is another Wow! See what I mean? He has a vision! This is European modern elegance. It's quite sophisticated, with strength in large color elements, yet quiet. The brown leather chair adds a feeling that this is a room, not only a utilitarian kitchen, and the color of the chair adds life. Very well done! The lighting fixture, honestly, to my eye, is the perfect touch. LOVE!

Nate, I'd love to see more kitchens! This sampling alone includes such a great collection of creative and diverse (and unexpected) details, don't you think? 

First two images from Oprah.com, last image from ElleDecor.com.

The Intoxication of Paris!

Seven nights in Paris...it's taken me so long to begin this post because I just don't know where to start! How about I start with adjectives? Paris was:

incredible, amazing, beautiful, sexy, charming, colorful, historic, elegant, modern, rustic, delicious...and I'll add another "incredible!"

The view from our apartment below over the Seine:

My husband and I stayed for 7 nights. We rented a luxury apartment overlooking the Seine, decorated in blacks, reds, and browns. It was TRES chic! Ok...the luxury part? My husband received a trip from his employer for many years of service and truth be told, we could have made several nice trips out of the gift and stayed at decent places. Instead, we made one small trip and then, um, decided to BLOW the rest of the travel $$ after airfare, on a fabulous apartment. Yeah....we're glad we did. Sometimes you just have to blow the money, you know?

Which brings up an interesting subject. I never feel a need to stay within bounds of whatever I perceive my "class" to be (don't we all have a perception?)...which changes depending on my mood. Could I afford to stay in that apartment for an extended period of time? No! Should I feel comfortable in a luxury apartment that I could barely afford to rent for a week? Why not? And I did feel comfortable the moment I stepped into the building!

Prior to selecting the apartment, we were feeling responsibly frugal. The more we looked at apartments online, however, the more we were falling in love with the fantasy of living in Parisian luxe for a week!

As a designer, it is an experience to stay in beautifully designed surroundings. Good design that I can live in, even temporarily, is a memory for me and a thrill. I'll always have Paris.... :) For Steve, he, too, said let's do it and we thought Paris was the PERFECT place to indulge! 

The Kitchen Parallel

I can surely make a parallel to kitchen design. When it comes to material costs, of course, you must reconcile what your heart AND your head tell you and that is the tricky part. But, if you fall in love, say, with a walnut wood countertop for an island and if you truly can afford it, take care that your "default worry alarm" does not shut off your dream state, only to select a less expensive (but practical) material, crushing the dream yet leaving you feeling (yes, unnecessarily) responsible. Being frugal in a situation such as this when one does not need to be, in my world, is borING! 

Design beyond your comfort zone. Find creative budget solutions which are always out there to find and feel good about that. I've done that, to the max, actually. But, also feel good when you've just.got.to.have.the.....whatever. Go for it, spring for it, indulge your kitchen fantasy. You deserve it, you're worth it, and yes, the material thing you love does not have a pulse, but I sure get lasting joy from some of my possessions and experiences, even over decades, don't you?

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A Little Time Off...

Image captured on my recent trip to Paris!As sometimes happens with my blog, I might seemingly disappear for a bit. And, I guess I actually do, at least in terms of regular blog writing. And, I always regret that, while at the same time I am planning post after post as events transpire, only to get involved with something else before I put fingers to the keyboard. Thus, the regret!

Right now, and for some time, I have been juggling some very exciting balls, all in the air (ok, the blog ball dropped!) I am currently working on:

• designing kitchens for clients
• running the business and all that entails
• participating in short design consultations for clients
• keeping my hand in Twitter, my personal facebook profile and my professional Facebook page ("like" me!) 
• working closely with Angela Min, who has been part of my business since the spring (she's awesome, classically trained in Interior Design with a masters degree in ID, and you will be hearing from Angela on this blog and elsewhere!)
• working on my new product line, Bornholm, to be launched this summer and all THAT entails (a lot!)
• attending industry events
• blogging for Sears, Decorati, Divine Caroline, K+BB 
• interacting with members of the media on various projects
• not to mention an active personal/family life including a recent trip to Paris! And my 35 babies (roses in my garden!)

Beyond being busy, as we all are of course, sometimes the more I am away from my blog, the more a bit of paralysis sets in too, where I feel, well, I've been gone awhile, now I really have to blog about something special. Maybe some of you bloggers have felt that too. Today, I'm tossing that analysis paralysis aside to just touch base with you.

I did take a number of days off in the middle of a busy time to (obsessively) search for the perfect project management system to keep it all running smoothly and which serves as a great communications platform between Angela and I and for us and our clients. 

Seeking something new, I got my hair cut in Paris! So fun! Total language barrier too!I'd say that my career has never been as interesting, diverse, fun, and hopeful as it has been in the recent past, right now, and for the foreseeable future. I'm loving every day and all the interactions with clients and industry colleagues, new and old. 

I'm deeply entrenched into all things "kitchen" focused and in my new project management system, I have a special place set up for blog ideas so they now will not escape me after I say to myself "YES, I've GOT to blog about that!"

More soon....and I hope this finds you well. I'd love to know what you are finding new and exciting in the world of design...

Oprah.com Home and Garden Feature, and more

Hello visitors from Oprah.com! Angela Min, interior designer, and I, certified kitchen designer, welcome you! Angela and I are a design team, focused on our specialized areas of residential design. You will soon find Angela's insights on design in this blog, her first post to be seen within days.

Angela and I both offer design consulting services, from one hour phone consultations (see the right sidebar) to full turnkey design services. It's just amazing what can be accomplished during this hour as we get our clients focused and work through one creative idea after another, whatever the client's budget. Good design does not have to be expensive! And, we work as a design team on projects too! Thank you, Oprah.com visitors, for visiting, and please leave a comment! Topic suggestions? Let us know.

It's a good time at this point to also make mention of my daughter, Kelly Donovan. Kelly, my buddy, friend, daughter and all around super smart and savvy gal, will also be joining us on The Kitchen Designer blog to share her unique insights on living in no less than five small urban kitchens (in New York City). Kelly is a foodie, a truly passionate cook, mom of a 9 month old, and will share her information and insights on living and cooking in a tiny kitchen! I've often wanted to focus regularly on small kitchens in this blog, so I am thrilled to introduce my readers to Kelly!

Kitchen and Bath Industry Show

I'm happy, plain and simple! I am writing this on a plane en route to the KBIS show in Chicago. To say I love going to this show is an understatement. It's THE place to go if you are in the kitchen and bath industry. I get reenergized, see colleagues, meet new ones, attend seminars, while having no other distractions. I am as excited about going this year as I ever was, and I guess this is my 19th year attending KBIS. Add some press events into the mix, and we're talking serious fun!

This year I will be serving as a judge for K+BB magazine, a sponsor of KBIS, to judge the best products in the show. I serve as a judge for K+BB magazine at the end of the year to evaluate the most innovative products of each year, so it is another honor to be asked by this venerable kitchen industry magazine to serve in this capacity. Fun!

While at KBIS, I will be visiting the autokitchen.com exhibit. Contact autokitchen.com for a special KBIS price on the latest, and very innovative, version of their software. I have chosen autokitchen.com to work with in my design practice for a number of reasons, but, ok, truth be told...it's the incredibly sexy state of the art photorealistic graphics that had me when I clicked on to the website! Take a look (allied design professionals) and tell the U.S. representative, Miguel, that Susan from The Kitchen Designer blog personally sent you.

KBIS, here I come, and Oprah.com visitors, please bookmark this blog for much more professional design advice on both kitchens and interiors.